Remodeling your old kids rooms? Some tips and caution

If your kids are off to university,moved out or married, you may be faced with one of the biggest decisions youve had to make in 15 or 20 years: what to do with their bedrooms?

For some empty nesters, the question answers itself they sell the family home and opt for more bucolic quarters in the country or a smaller pied-à-terre in the city. But if youve decided youre not going anywhere, figuring out what to do with one, two or three empty bedrooms can be a challenge.

Here are a few ideas you may find helpful:

• Man cave: If hes been dreaming of his own space for hobbies, playing cards with his buddies or alone time, theres never been a better time to give him what he wants and there are no shortage of ideas.
• Walk-in closet: He may dream of a man cave, but youd love more glorious closet space HGTV offers some wonderfully stylish inspiration.
• Art or craft studio: If either or both of you are drawn to the arts, a separate, bright space to paint, sculpt or write can a long way to fuel creativity. Here and here and here offer inspiration.
• Office: If you work from home or want to, youll be more productive in a space where you can focus on that activity in other words, not your kitchen or dining room table. Here are 10 great tips for setting up a home office that works.

No matter what you decide to do, keep in mind that more often than not these days the kids come back (see below) either to live for a few more years, or to visit with their families. This site counsels homeowners not to destroy their kids bedrooms but to upgrade them into a welcoming guest room.

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Did you know?

Boomerang-Toomerang-Zoomerang

Before you go all out with renovations, keep in mind the share of Americans living in multi-generation homes is at its highest since the 1950s about 1 in 5 25- to 34-year olds live at home. The golden age of renovating your kids rooms may have been in 1980 when the share of young adults living with their parents was at just 11%.

(Source)